Do you often eat in restaurants?

[Julie4]

It's rare for me, but I've heard that Americans eat in restaurants quite regularly.

[nightdrot]

Well, since becoming a dad and what not, less than I used to. However, even still, we enjoy eating out a lot and the list of restaurants we go to in the Washington, DC area is long.

My favorite is in the Old Town area of Alexandria, Virginia - a suburb of Washington DC. The area itself, as the name suggests, is made up of old colonial era buildings along the Potomac River that house all sorts of shops, stores and restaurants.

Among them is an Italian place called Il Porto. (Just for fun, here is the link: https://www.ilportoristorante.com/ ) In my bachelor days, this was my every Friday night dinner place - except for Lent, when, good Catholic boy that I am, I didn't go out to eat.

Suffice to say, going there for almost 30 years, I got to know everyone on the staff and management. Plus, creature of habit that I am, I would order the same thing: Gin and tonic, bread, lasagna. I also sat at the same table. Anyhow, I became so well known that one of the waiters asked me to be the godparent to his new baby daughter - that was 14 years ago!!

So, long answer to short question: Do I eat OFTEN at restaurants? Guess I'd have to answer, "eh, I guess." (Kidding, as you can no doubt tell.) Even now, with a whole family, we still like to go out and we still frequent Il Porto, though not quite EVERY Friday like I used to.

[Julie4]

Thanks for sharing the link, it looks really good. I can't imagine you as a man eating lasagna, lol.

Haha that's an interesting anecdote , the staff finally said you were like a family member 🤣 you accepted the request to be godparent?

[nightdrot]

Oh yes. Actually, believe it or not, I have 65 godchildren, only one of which is a related family member - my niece. All the rest are the children of friends from high school, college or work - or in one case, the staff of a restaurant I frequent. (Actually, a waiter - and a very nice guy who I would chat with.)

For whatever reason, people seem to have decided that I am good with kids and am godparent material. The jury is still out on what my own kids think.

[nightdrot]

P. S. Type-o: I have 6 godchildren - NOT 65.

Also, I didn't know that in France lasagna was gender specific? Who knew?

Third. I forgot to mention that I would not have dessert at Il Porto but would go down the street to an ice cream shop called "SCOOPS" where I would get a chocolate malt made with chocolate malt ice cream. DE-licious!!

Lastly, on the website, if you take the "virtual tour" at the opening scene, I would ALWAYS sit at the table in that back room with the "window" on the left side of the entranceway to that room. Take the tour if you are interested. Apparently, long before it was a restaurant, the place was - or so they tell you on their menu - the home of a sea captain.

[Julie4]

I am not surprised, you are a gentleman, so it is no wonder that people choose you as a godparent, you attract sympathy.

Thanks for the advice, I will make the virtual tour.

Oh no, both man and woman eat lasagna in France. But I wanted to say that I don't really know why, but my imagination doesn't imagine Nightdrot eating lasagna. 😅

[nightdrot]

First, thank you for the kind compliment. You are exceptionally generous.

As to lasagna, yup. Let your imagination run wild and free. I love it. (By the way, they bring you a dinner salad before the main course with an absolutely fantastic Italian salad dressing.) That said, as a guy of part Italian descent - on my mother's side - as you can imagine, I grew up on a lot of Italian cooking.

Anyhow, thanks again. You are an exceptionally kind and generous person - as much if not more the lady than I am a gentleman - and I always enjoy exchanging ideas with you.

[Julie4]

Well the Italian cuisine is very good, I like it a lot too.

If one day I have the chance to come to the USA remind me of this restaurant address.

Oh thank you so much for those kind remarks sir. You have always been very kind, respectful and you take the time to respond to people with courtesy, moreover you have an immense culture, added to that your knowledge of politics which gives you a historical depth.

So obviously people aren't afraid to choose you as their godfather. If I had a child I would want a godfather like you. And many women would like to have a husband and a father like you.

Excuse me, I have to go. Take care of yourself and your family, kiss them for me. 😊

[IsoUser]

We do at least twice a week mainly because I don't feel like cooking on those days Lol. Though I routinely cook my Pittbull's breakfast and dinner daily he eats better than most people do with a mix of fresh lean hamburger or boneless chicken breasts or steak mixed with peas and carrots and brown rice added to Grainfree dog food. But I've raised him since 6 weeks old and he's just a big intimidating baby Lol at heart towards myself and family members. However I wouldn't suggest running from him or any Pittbull really because all bet's are are off and it's Game On, hunting instincts take over Lmao

[IsoUser]

Essentially show absolutely " No Fear " around any Pittbull and you're essentially fine they are the biggest Babies 😉😍😍😁😁😉

[bubblegunnn]

Rare.. i always cook for household..
But when i went to holiday on my parents hometown, we sometimes eat in restaurant as a big family.. or if my friend invited me to eat in restaurant i would down for it

[Tinana]

I eat out maybe once or twice a month in school 🥰 when I’m back home nah I’m the chef 👩‍🍳 😂😂 but I feel so lazy to cook often in school

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Somewhat regularly, but not fast foods - either popular cuisine or high class restaurants.

[crossdressingrihno]

Can't afford it and wouldn't eat it even if I could. "Restaurant quality food" is actually garbage the food generally lacks a lot of flavor because it's designed to fit the general man's palette in other words meaning it's meant to be pleasing to the most amount of people which also means that it lacks the ability to be incredibly pleasing to an individual.

[Agent_Elflord]

Hardly do I ever go a month without eating out somewhere. Friendly reminder that a large portion of Americans in the workforce only get a 30 minute or 1 hour long lunch break, so they must find a place near their work to eat because they won’t have time to go home, cook, eat, and come back unless they live just down the street.

[Antman7119]

From New York at my most frequent I would about 4/5 times a week. Now not so much as I watch my nutrition much more carefully. Approximately once a week or every 2 weeks. But yes Americans are lazy and we rather pay premium for service and food if we can afford it.

[ChrisMaster69]

It varies a fair bit.

i go to proper restaurants a couple of times a month.

however local pubs and other pubs have very good food, those can be once or twice a week.

a Friday is usually a Thai restaurant for lunch.

[ohsheeT]

Honestly I don't really like restaurants I would rather cook myself at home but I mean I do go to restaurants when I take somebody out to dinner or friends come in town but most of the time I would rather just cook it home because I'm a good cook

[MTC29]

Thanks to the new pricing structure; where everything costs twice as much and the service is awful, I now seldom eat in restaurants.

[exitseven]

I notice that too. We got in the habit of getting takeout on Saturday but the last couple of times it was almost twice as much.

[Moonshae]

I think a lot do cause it's more convenient to eat out and not at home. Also some have a busy life or two people working in a household so staying home and cooking isn't convenient.

[SoftCliff]

Yes once every two weeks, in the summer sometimes more often. I generally like cooking at home and it's easier to control what you're eating there

[DryGermanGuy]

Well, what Americans consider to be „restaurants“, cough! 🙄

[BlueStripedSoul]

It's very rare for me too. I make the vast majority of my meals (from scratch). Every once in awhile I may order something in, but even that is a rare occasion.

[purplepoppy]

A proper restaurant probably once a week but in the UK a lot of pubs double up as restaurants and I'll have 2 or 3 pub meals a week with friends.

[Youryeodongsaeng]

We often do. My main three favorite sit-down restaurants are Applebee's, Golden Corral and Cracker Barrel. I hardly ever go to those places.

[Cathy7734]

I often do. It feels good to go to a place and be served. I always leave at least a 20% tip each time I go.

[melanieeeB]

Also rarely, mostly just when meeting up with someone, usually I cook myself or I invite people for dinner to my home

[WeirdoFriendly]

I wouldn't say I eat IN restaurants often. However, I do at least order from a restaurant 4 days out of the week. And if I don't, then it's probably because I'm eating store bought at home or with a friend.

[pass_the_celery98]

In the last yr I’ve dropped 20 pounds from 170 to 150. I’ve saved more money by not eating out, making food at home and knowing what goes in my food. I don’t mind going to a restaurant here and there. But I’ve cut back how often I do go.

[boredgal]

no. my mom's filipino and cooks great. we only eat out on special occasions or if we feel too lazy to cook lol

[Kori1236]

Maybe once a month, usually only special occasions. I’d rather cook at home personally

[Lucy68]

Sundays, Wednesdays, some Fridays, and Saturdays we go to restaurants to have dinner